Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has launched a Special Employment Programme to provide employment opportunities and financial assistance to weavers, farmers and unemployment youths in the state.

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday inaugurated the “Chief Minister’s Special Employment Programme 2010-11” in Guwahati and distributed bank loans worth rupees 1.10 crore to 93 joint liability groups (JLGs) under this new programme.“Our government has always accorded top priority to provide different avenues of self employment to weavers, farmers and unemployed youths through a host of schemes that have led to a rise in their income and living standard,” Gogoi said while launching the program.

Another 238 JLGs also received loans and financial assistance worth rupees 5.66 crore under the Chief Minister’s Jiban Jyoti Swaniojan Yojana on the occasion. Minister for Panchyat and Rural Development, Chandan Brahma said government was contemplating to provide financial assistance in the form of subsidy to Self-Help Groups (SHG) soon.

“Self-help groups have played a pivotal role in ushering a silent revolution in rural areas through their diversified economic activities. Hence, we need to give to them all opportunities to grow. We will also distribute power tillers and tractors to small and marginalized farmers as firm mechanization will result in more production, leading to increased income,” added Gogoi.

Brahma said, “We plan to include more and more weavers and farmers under this programme. So far more than 25,000 youths have received employment under the Chief Minister’s Jiban Jyoti Swaniojan Yojana programme.